The Sedition Act of 1798 :: Government American History Papers

For the first few years of Constitutional government, under theleadership of George Washington, there was a unity, commonly calledFederalism that even pile Madison (the future architect of the RepublicanParty) acknowledged in describing the Republican form of government-- And according to the degree of pleasure and plume we feel in beingrepublicans, ought to be our zeal in cherishing the spirit and supportingthe character of Federalists. Although legislators had seriousdifferences of opinions, political unity was considered absolutelyessential for the stableness of the nation.Political parties or factionswere considered evil as Complaints atomic number 18 everywhere heard from our mostconsiderate and virtuous citizens, equally the friends of public andprivate faith, and of public and personal liberty, that our governments aretoo unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rivalparties, and that measures are too often decided, not according to therule s of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superiorforce of an interested and overbearing majority_ Public perception offactions were related to British excesses and thought to be the mortaldiseases under which popular governments have everywhere perished. JamesMadison wrote in Federalist Papers 10, By a faction, I understand anumber of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of thewhole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or ofinterest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent andaggregate interests of the community. He went on to formulate that factionis part of human nature that the CAUSES of faction cannot be removed, andthat relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its EFFECTS. The significant bloom Madison was to make in this essay was that the Unionwas a safeguard against factions in that even if the influence of factiousleaders may kindle a flame within their particular State s, they will beunable to spread a general conflagration through the other States.What caused men like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison to defy traditionand public perceptions against factions and build an opposition party? Did they finally agree with Edmund Burkes famous aphorism When bad mencombine, the good must associate else they will fall, one by one, anunpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle? Did the answer lie intheir opposition with the agenda of horse parsley Hamilton and the increases ofpower both to the executive branch as well as the legislative branch ofgovernment?